An institutional learning and teaching framework defines and communicates the academic qualities that help give a university or college its unique identity. Most institutional frameworks combine research from the current literature on learning, teaching, and pedagogical innovation with an inductively-generated description of the educational principles, characteristics, or elements that guide learning and teaching within the specific institution. The development of these frameworks is becoming more prevalent worldwide as universities and colleges strive to define and preserve a unique institutional identity amidst the broader post-secondary landscape (Hamilton, Marquez & Agger-Gupta, 2013a). This paper begins with an exploration of the rationale for creating an institutional framework for teaching and learning as well as an overview of the potential benefits and challenges. Several examples of different approaches will be described. Next, through a series of integrative exercises, participants will (1) identify why they would want to develop an institutional framework, (2) explore their initial thoughts on what a framework might look like at their institution and (3) map out a potential development process. To guide these activities, a case study will be presented describing the “Learning and Teaching Mode (LTM)” that has recently been developed at Royal Roads University. This model has been presented to a number of national and international conferences (Hamilton, Marquez, & Agger-Gupta, 2013a, Hamilton, Marquez, & Agger-Gupta, 2013b). The case study will explore why the LTM was created, how the process unfolded, what activities are currently being carried out to support its implementation as well as what future directions are being explored.
References
Hamilton, D.N., Marquez, P. & Agger-Gupta, N.(2013a). Institutional frameworks that support learning and teaching – The Royal Roads University experience. Presented at the Learning Congress, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC. June 7th.
Hamilton, D.N., Marquez, P. & Agger-Gupta, N. (2013b). Real life, real learning – The Royal Roads University experience. Paper presented at the International Congress of Distance Education 25th World Conference, Tianjin, China, October 16-20, 2013.
